And if you use a left handed drill bit, chances are that it will grab at some point and back the thing right out.

 

I have counted on that happening a good many times and it has. Thankfully

WP

 

I remove and discard Torx fasteners on my vehicles replacing them with hex socket cap or standard hex cap fasteners.
For me, the Torx fasteners and their bits fail (strip out or break apart) often.
They seem to work okay for deck screws (like building a wood deck) but sadly that won't help you with your problem.
Cutting a slot in the head and using some heat (if possible) does work well.
I have had to weld a piece onto bolt heads that I can get a adjustable end wrench on for the worst ones.
Use penetrating oil too.
The very best penetrating oil I have used is Cabots Tasgon.
Not sure if it is still available. Where I worked they stopped using it because if you get it in your eye(s) it causes immediate irreversible eye damage.
I finally bought some reverse flute drill bits but have not had occasion to use them yet.
But I'm sure I will some day...

 

I've learned the hard way that cheap Torx tools are crap. I now have Snap-on (or whatever their cheaper brand is) and haven't had any problems since.

 

I couldn't agree more, and for the most part, all cheap tools are crap.

For those that are considering replacing their torx fasteners with conventional fasteners, here's some interesting information (Scroll down, and click on Principles of operation).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx

 

Wiki info is only as good as the contributor provides. I treat torx fasteners like megawatt does........ I shitcan them. No regrets, and no issues.

 

The contributor is a mechanical engineer. Good enough for me.

 

Whenever I want to know what an absolute idiot knows about a subject, I go straight to wikipedia.

 

Hey Shem did you ever get the bolt out??

 

My three boys are mechanical engineers an I can't get them to check their own oil!